How We Created a Vision:PEOPLE and PROCESS

Process for Creating the Vision

To create a vision for the future of energy in Utah, a team of experts gathered over a two-year period to share knowledge and extensively research and discuss options. Members of the Energy Action Team were selected by Governor Gary Herbert and Envision Utah to represent a spectrum of professional experience and political affiliations. Team members included utility experts, legislators, and other energy specialists from across the state. From 2013 to 2015, the action team met to identify Utahns’ choices related to energy, create scenarios for public input, and synthesize a vision for the future. The process of creating this vision also included the following components:

A 2014 values study

This study was conducted by Heart+Mind Strategies to identify (1) what factors Utahns view as affecting their quality of life the most and (2) the underlying emotions and values tied to those factors. The study concluded that Utahns want the cost of energy to be low but are also concerned about how energy production and consumption will affect the air quality and environment.

The “Build Your 2050 Utah” web app

This app allowed Utahns to identify what factors concerning energy are most important to them and to visualize in an interactive module the effect certain decisions would have. More than 3,000 people across Utah gave input through the app, and the information gathered indicates that Utahns want to:

Lower carbon emissions.

Increase energy efficiency and conservation measures.

Set aside land for future substations, transmission lines, and other infrastructure.

Analysis

Using the best information currently available, analysis was conducted to model possible effects resulting from changes to Utah’s energy source mix.

The action team used this information to create three different scenarios for the future of energy in Utah. The three scenarios differed in the amounts of natural gas, renewables, and nuclear power used to generate electricity. These variations resulted in changes to household costs, pollutants, amount of water used, need for energy storage, and other outcomes. These scenarios were presented to the public in the Your Utah, Your Future survey in spring 2015, and 52,845 Utahns weighed in.

After receiving public input on the three energy scenarios, the action team met to frame a vision, including goals and strategies, to achieve what Utahns said they wanted for energy in 2050.